Episode 114: The Pride of an Adventurer

Martina Hyatt was utterly bewildered.

(W-What’s going on…!? The silver-haired hunk was actually Count Kreving!?)

Indeed, ever since their encounter in the labyrinth dungeon, Martina had sensed a certain refinement in the silver-haired man.

But to think he was actually a noble. And furthermore—

(That means… I’ve been saved by Count Kreving—by Lord Siegfried—twice now, haven’t I!?)

First, in the dire straits of the labyrinth dungeon, and then, during the crisis of potential expulsion from the Adventurer’s Guild.

Twice, Siegfried had come to her rescue. …At least, that’s how it felt from Martina’s perspective.

“Is that all?”

“Huh?”

“Did you come just to say thank you? That’s what I’m asking.”

“Uh, um! W-Well, uh…!”

Siegfried’s words snapped Martina back to reality, and she hurriedly strung together a response.

“Y-Yes! This time, I wanted to express my gratitude for commissioning the quest with such generous terms… I just had to thank you properly…!”

“Unnecessary.”

Siegfried stated flatly.

“I offered compensation, and you accepted the job. That’s all there is to it. Where’s the need for gratitude?”

“B-But, if it weren’t for this quest, I… I might’ve been expelled from the Adventurer’s Guild… You really saved me…!”

“That’s your problem. It’s no concern of mine.”

Siegfried had a clear intention behind setting such a lavish reward for this quest.

It was an investment for the future.

Adventurers travel across nations, encountering a wide range of information.

If they recognized him as a ‘generous client,’ it would make them easier to utilize.

Beyond merely commissioning quests, he could use them to gather information or even deliberately spread information to other countries—that was his calculation.

Pay a high reward upfront, then slowly reap the benefits later.

That was Siegfried’s aim.

But Martina didn’t grasp the underlying motives.

All she could think was—

(S-So cool…!)

That was her impression.

(Lord Siegfried… He saved me from a pinch again, and he’s not even the least bit smug about it…! He’s just too cool…!)

“So—that’s all you wanted?”

Siegfried cast a glance that seemed to say, If you’re done, leave.

“Uh, um, well…”

Martina faltered. She desperately didn’t want this meeting with him to end.

“Um, well… if it’s alright with you, could we, maybe… talk a bit more?”

Martina removed the cloak she’d wrapped around herself like a coat.

As she leaned forward slightly, the valley of her ample chest peeked subtly from between her leather breastplate.

(M-Maybe… a little charm could spark his interest…!)

Martina looked up at Siegfried with hopeful eyes.

But what came back was a voice as cold as ice.

“You—do you have the resolve to die?”

“Huh?”

“I’ve just finished conquering the Pastrier Fortress City today. I need to set future strategies and issue detailed orders as the acting commander of the Eastern Army. And you’re saying you want to take up my time with idle talk?”

“Oh, no, I didn’t mean—”

“If your conversation is more meaningful than instructions for the Eastern Army’s strategy, I’ll hear you out. But—you’d better be prepared to stake your life on it. If I find your words trivial, I’ll kill you. If you’re fine with that… then I’ll listen.”

“W-What…!? N-No, I didn’t mean it like that…!”

“I see. Then there’s nothing to discuss. As per our agreement, I’ll pay the promised reward. This matter is settled.”

“Ugh…”

With such a definitive dismissal, Martina was at a loss for words.

Her shoulders slumped as she turned to leave the room in silence—but then,

A surge of emotion welled up from deep within her chest.

(Are you really okay with backing down here, Martina Hyatt!?)

She questioned herself inwardly.

(Didn’t I… genuinely want to see the silver-haired hunk, Lord Siegfried!?)

Driven by impulse, Martina spun around with fervor.

To others, it might seem frivolous or shallow. But—she had feelings she couldn’t compromise on.

“Lord Siegfried! I will—absolutely—become an A-rank adventurer soon! And one day… I’ll reach even higher ranks!”

“Oh?”

A faint hint of interest colored Siegfried’s tone.

An A-rank adventurer was renowned across nations. Beyond that, S-rank or SS-rank adventurers were among the world’s elite.

“I—I’m going to become an even greater adventurer than I am now! So… please, give me another quest! I swear I won’t let you down. And… I’ll make you notice me, no matter what!”

Martina Hyatt stood tall, her chest puffed out with pride. That was her way of showing sincerity.

“Talk is cheap. I don’t place value on empty words.”

Siegfried’s piercing gaze bore into Martina.

“Prove it, Martina Hyatt. If you truly make that declaration a reality, then… I’ll hear you out again.”

“…Y-Yes!”

Martina’s eyes sparkled as she responded with vigor.

Siegfried was a man who showed no interest in anything but evil and its associated forces.

But—he didn’t dislike those who staked their lives on their convictions.

Such individuals had value, whether as subordinates or as ‘justice’ standing against his ‘evil.’

With a final bow, Martina left the room, quietly closing the door behind her.

“Man, talking to him like that? You’ve got some guts.”

The voice came from Fen, who had been listening outside the room.

“At first, I thought you were just some flaky weirdo, but… you’ve got some spark, don’t you?”

“Haaah! I went and said, ‘I’ll make you notice me!’… Ugh, maybe I got a bit carried away…”

Blushing, Martina squirmed in embarrassment.

“B-But! He said he’d hear me out again… That means there’s a chance, right!?”

Martina leaned in eagerly toward Fen.

“Huh? Uh, I don’t really get it, but… probably… maybe…?”

“Right!? Alright, I’m gonna give it my all! And someday, with Lord Siegfried… hehehe!”

Martina Hyatt turned her gaze toward a rosy future. By nature, she was an optimist.

Glancing at her, Fen muttered under her breath.

“…Scratch that. You’re definitely a weirdo.”

And so, the brief reunion between Siegfried and Martina came to an end.

The story of evil now shifts to a new stage—the capital of the Serodonia Kingdom, San Serodia.